Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1887-12-09

It has been the general impression
of our people that we had at San
Pedro and Wilmington haroor COM
lnodious and already accessible to
coasting vessels, which in the slow but
sure way OF our Government engl-
neers, under the parsimonious policy
which has at all times characterize d
Congressional action towards Pacif C
coast interests, has been in process OF
development into safe port capable
of receiving and sheltering at its docks
deep-sea vessels from all the world.
The report of Colonel Mendell,
Chief OF Engineers for the Pacific
coast, synopsis of which appeared in
our Geographic columns yesterday,
does not encourage US in this belief,
but very decidedly tends to upset the
hopes OF deep-sea commerce at San
Pedro, at least in the near future. we
are therein told that as haven fof
light-draft coasting vessels our Will
mington and San Pedro inlet is sue
cess-that il has very large coastine
trade conducted in this class OF vessels
and that foreign .deep-sea vessels are
attracted here, but that they ere
obliged to anchor far from shore, SO
that con merce is taxed by the oner-
Gus burden OF lighterage from
the anchorage without the har-
Dor to the wharves within.
And that in the absence OF very large
expenditures for impl ovement this
must continue to be SO. Indeed, the
dispatch makes out almost hopeless
case against the improvement; but
we are told that further examinations
are recommended.
At the same time Colonel Mendel'
points out that, allowing for differ
.ences in grades to be overcome, as we'll
as for actual mileage, San Pedro has
an advantage equivalent to being
800 miles nearer controlling points IN
the Fast than is San Francisco; and
also very decided advantages, in the
way of ghter gradients and shorter
and more direct routes in its railway
approaches, over san Diego. But,
recognizing in San Diego harbor a
haven CAPABLE of accommodating a
large commerce of every class OF YES
sells. he doubts the ACCESSIBILITY OF at
tempting at San Pedro to make pot
for deep-sea vessels. The synopsis OF
the re port to which we have drawn
attention is very significant and we
recommend our merchants to read 1t
again carefully.
Colonel Mendell very calmly con-
templates the prospect OF there being
no seaport between San Francisco and
San Diego, 600 miles-as far as from
Portland, Maine, to Baltimore per-
haps. But we do, not believe
that the people Of Los Angeles
realizing the very decided geographic
cal advantage over San francisco and
Typographical advantage over San
Diego, with which the Chief Engi-
neer accredits us, are going to be set
in the back country, because our hy-
geographic advantages at San Pedro
arc not as good as they might be.
q What Not bring ship and car to-
gether at any point between San
Francisco and San Diego? THE HER
AID il not inclined to accept this con-
clusion. We are something Of q
prophet ourselves, and we foresee that
our frisky little neighbor near the
Mexican border, Notwithstanding her
quiet wire-pulling of the past few
wears, while Los Angeles merchants
have been too busy to look around
them. will not have Los Angeles for n
back country.
Just at this juncture our Board Of
Trade should step to the front ana
lose no time nor trick in securing
proper governmental attention OF the
resources for deep-sea commerce
which our coast may possess. What
would the people OF the East say if
thew had no harbor receiving atten-
ion for SEQ miles OF coast; no ship
md car together from Maine TO
seoryia? The idea for our coast, alas,
9 preposterous, and we won't accept |
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